Florida House District 73: Tommy Gregory

Name: Tommy Gregory

Age: 48

Family: I met my wife, Erica, while we were cadets at the Air Force Academy. We both served 20 years on active duty before retiring and moving back to Florida in 2015. We’ve been married 25 years and have three teenage sons. Two of them attended high school in Bradenton and now attend Florida State University. Our youngest son is currently attending high school in Sarasota.

Bio: I’m a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, Florida native and proud American. I attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, where I graduated with military distinction and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. I earned a law degree, with honors, from the University of Texas. In the Air Force, I served primarily in the Judge Advocate General Corps. I now work as a commercial litigation attorney at Williams Parker.

Why are you running for office? 

I’m running because I’m passionate about continuing to serve our country. We are the most exceptional country in the history of the world because we chose to be a nation that values individual responsibility over big government and fought for the unprecedented freedoms in our Constitution. Some politicians don’t respect our rights and don’t understand that the purpose of our government is to serve the people, not to rule them. I’m running to defend our rights, build our economy and enforce our laws.

What are three priorities you hope to accomplish if elected? 

1. Protect and defend our constitutional rights;
2. Rebuild Florida’s economy with an emphasis on investing in transportation infrastructure; and
3. Support our law enforcement professionals.

With Florida revenues expected to finish the year at $1.6 billion below expectations. What budget cuts would you propose? 

We will have to consider cuts across all the board and must prioritize pandemic recovery.

What would be your position on raising taxes to close any gap? 

I’m 100% opposed to raising taxes.

What’s your position on calls for the state to expand its Medicaid spending? 

Opposed.

How would you rate Florida’s public education funding: too little, just right, too much? What would you change?

Improved. I voted for the historic increase in teacher salaries and would support additional education funding, but I believe the schools exist to serve the students, not vice versa. Students need to be the focus of all education policies — not buildings and systems — meaning that the money should follow the students to the best educational options. And those options are best decided by parents, not distant bureaucrats. I favor giving parents more freedom to choose the best educational options for their children.

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the environment a top priority when elected, committing to spend/invest $2.5 billion during his term to help clean up and protect Florida’s water systems. How would you describe your position toward this spending?

I was proud to support and vote for these investments in Florida water systems.

Visit Florida’s budget went from $76 million to $50 million in the last legislative session. Given the pandemic and its effects on Florida tourism, what would you propose in the next session? 

I think it’s time for Florida to stop funding Visit Florida.

The November ballot will have an amendment to require a $15 minimum wage by 2026, increasing by inflation every year after. What’s your position on the minimum wage? 

Opposed. This 77% increase will kill 500,000 jobs and hurt the poorest members of our community the most.

For the past three years, the issue of who should regulate short-term residential rentals has come before the Legislature. What’s your position: Should the state or local governments regulate them? Why? 

I believe we should pass legislation at the state level concerning vacation rentals that treats homeowners equitably and does not undermine individual property rights.

State funding for the arts increased from $2.6 million two years ago to $21.2 million in the most recent session. Arts groups requested $62 million. What’s your position on state taxpayers funding the arts? And if you support it, how much should they get? 

This is not the time to propose new appropriations.

Florida’s unemployment insurance compensation system was roundly criticized during the pandemic. It pays one of the lowest amounts in the nation — a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. Should that be changed, and if so, to what? Why? 

We must improve or replace the current system.